Mortimer L. Schiff Scout Reservation

Schiff Scout Reservation
Owner Boy Scouts of America
Location Mendham, New Jersey
Country United States of America
Coordinates 40°45′0.63″N 74°37′46.83″W / 40.7501750°N 74.6296750°W / 40.7501750; -74.6296750Coordinates: 40°45′0.63″N 74°37′46.83″W / 40.7501750°N 74.6296750°W / 40.7501750; -74.6296750
Founded 1932
Defunct 1979

The Mortimer L. Schiff Scout Reservation, located in central New Jersey, was a major Boy Scout training facility for almost 50 years. It was named after Mortimer L. Schiff, the father of John M. Schiff; both of whom were World Scout Committee members and notable early Boy Scouts of America (BSA) leaders.

Background

The original reservation comprised 400 acres (1.6 km2) near Mendham, New Jersey and was in operation from 1932-1979. It was formally dedicated on October 18, 1933. The land was purchased for the BSA by Mrs. Jacob Schiff in memory of her son, Mortimer, who died while President of the BSA in 1931. During this time it served as the BSA's National Training Center and hosted the first Wood Badge courses held in the United States.[1] Additionally, it served as the home of a special Troop, with William "Green Bar Bill" Hillcourt serving as Scoutmaster. This Troop was used a proving ground for Hillcourt's ideas and was commonly used for photographs in Boy's Life and in the 1948 Fieldbook.

William "Green Bar Bill" Hillcourt is buried in Mendham, New Jersey near the Mortimer L. Schiff Scout Reservation, now within the Patriots' Path Council. Today over 310 acres (1.3 km2) of the original 500 acres (2.0 km2) of the camp are preserved as the Schiff Nature Preserve.

Closure

After the National Council moved its headquarters in 1979 from New Brunswick, New Jersey to Irving, Texas, the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico became the new home of the National Training Center.

When the Mortimer L. Schiff Scout Reservation was closed, Nassau County Council's Camp Wauwepex in Wading River, New York was renamed as the John M. Schiff Scout Reservation, in honor of Mortimer's son, John.

Men of Schiff

Men of Schiff together
Taking to the world.
Scouting ways forever,
With flags and banners
Mightily Unfurled
To our Oath and Scout Law
True We'll always be
With every council
every region
Bound together in our legion
Men of Schiff are we.

Friends of Schiff

Friends of Schiff together
Taking to the world.
Scouting ways forever,
With flags and banners
Mightily Unfurled
To our Oath and Scout Law
True We'll always be
With every council
every region
Bound together in our legion
Friends of Schiff are we.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Wood Badge history
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